Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks: Did Special Teams Decide the Outcome?
The Montreal Canadiens, with a record of 17-18-3, faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks, who came into the game with a 13-24-2 record. The final score saw the Blackhawks outscoring the Canadiens 4-2 in a contest that highlighted both teams' efforts on special teams and goaltending.
Special Teams Battle
The game's outcome was significantly influenced by power play opportunities and penalty kills. The Canadiens capitalized once on their three power play chances, showcasing their ability to take advantage of these critical moments. However, it was not enough to overcome the Blackhawks' special teams performance. Chicago found the back of the net once in their four power play opportunities. This goal proved pivotal in building momentum for the home team at United Center.
Montreal's penalty kill faced seven shots during shorthanded situations but managed to limit Chicago to just one power play goal. Despite this effort, it was clear that special teams played a crucial role in determining the night's victor.
Goaltending and Defense
Goaltending was another key factor in this matchup. Sam Montembeault for Montreal made 22 saves on 26 shots, reflecting a solid performance despite the loss. On the other side of the ice, Arvid Soderblom turned away an impressive 38 out of 40 shots for Chicago, earning him one of the game's star selections alongside Nick Foligno and Tyler Bertuzzi who contributed significantly to their team's victory.
Defensively, both teams were almost equal in blocked shots with Montreal registering nine blocks compared to Chicago’s fourteen. However, Montreal struggled to contain Chicago’s offensive pushes as evidenced by their -10 plus-minus rating compared to Chicago’s +10.
Looking Ahead
The Montreal Canadiens will look forward as they travel to face off against Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on January 4th at 7:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch all action live on ESPN+ or ALT TV networks as both teams aim for victory early into New Year.
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